08 LC 33
2378
Senate
Resolution 831
By:
Senator Hill of the 32nd
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Expressing
cultural, economic, and educational cooperation with the People's Republic of
China; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
there is a bond of friendship between the citizens of Georgia and China, and the
people of Georgia welcome opportunities to grow our already deep relationship at
all levels including cultural, academic, and business; and
WHEREAS,
Governor Sonny Perdue will travel to China on a mission of peace and good will
to formally open an economic development office in Beijing; and
WHEREAS,
Atlanta and all of Georgia would be honored to be selected to serve as the home
of the next Consulate General of the People's Republic of China; and
WHEREAS,
Delta Air Lines won approval to operate a daily nonstop flight from Atlanta to
Shanghai which will have an economic impact of $400 million on the southeastern
United States; and
WHEREAS,
the High Museum of Art in Atlanta will host The First Emperor: China's
Terracotta Army from November 16, 2008, through April 26, 2009, a once in a
lifetime exhibition which includes more than 120 objects, some of which are new
discoveries, and includes 23 life-size figures of warriors, horses, and
government officials — the largest grouping of these objects China has
ever loaned; and
WHEREAS,
several Georgia cities have begun formal activity to finalize Sister City
relationships with numerous cities in China; and
WHEREAS,
the 2008 Olympic Games which will be hosted this year by China will create
opportunities for Georgia companies similar to those created when Atlanta hosted
the Olympic Games in 1996; and
WHEREAS, Georgia is proud that Georgia based companies such as the Coca-Cola Company, United Parcel Service, Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, Inter-Continental Hotels, John Portman & Associates, CNN, AJC International, Inc., GE Energy, Char-Broil, Concurrent Computer Corporation, and Micrometrics have operations in China; and
WHEREAS, Georgia is proud that Georgia based companies such as the Coca-Cola Company, United Parcel Service, Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, Inter-Continental Hotels, John Portman & Associates, CNN, AJC International, Inc., GE Energy, Char-Broil, Concurrent Computer Corporation, and Micrometrics have operations in China; and
WHEREAS,
celebrating 30 years of successful Chinese economic reform since 1978, Georgia
is proud that a growing number of Chinese companies such as COSCO North America,
Kingwasong LLC, Yat Ming USA, Inc., Ecotech Machinery, Inc., SANY AMERICA,
General Protecht, and New West International, Inc. have operations in Georgia;
and
WHEREAS,
the China Governance and Development Program of the International Center for
Democratic Governance with the Carl Vinson Institute at the University of
Georgia foster strong ties between Georgia and China by providing governmental
training and technical assistance to visiting delegations of Chinese officials
on an annual basis; and
WHEREAS,
Kennesaw State University is home to the China Research Center, the
SINO-American Education Consortium, the Center for International Programs, and
the Chinese Proficiency Testing Center; and
WHEREAS,
many other Georgia colleges and universities also have ties with China, among
them Emory University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern
University, Georgia State University, and Valdosta State University;
and
WHEREAS,
approximately 1,500 Chinese students study in Georgia universities, 140 Chinese
faculty members work in Georgia's universities, and 331 students from Georgia
have participated in numerous study abroad and student exchange programs with
Chinese universities; and
WHEREAS,
China is a top destination for Georgia exports, totaling over $979 million with
top exports including paper, food products, minerals, ore, nonmetallic mineral
products, forestry products, textiles, and textile mill products;
and
WHEREAS,
Georgia imports over $8.2 billion from China through the Savannah Customs
District with top imports including industrial and electrical machinery,
furniture, toys, games, iron and steel products, and plastics; and
WHEREAS,
two-way trade to and from China flowing through Georgia's ports of Atlanta,
Brunswick, and Savannah total over $12 billion, ranking Georgia as the
sixth-largest port in the United States for imports and exports with China and
the second largest port on the East Coast; and
WHEREAS,
Savannah ranks sixth among U.S. container ports in Asian imports and ranks
second among U.S. East Coast ports in imports from China with 65 percent of all
Asian based cargo transiting into the U.S. South Atlantic moving through
Savannah; and
WHEREAS,
the Georgia Ports Authority and the Shanghai International Port Group signed an
agreement to promote jointly all-water shipping routes and trade opportunities
between Shanghai and the Port of Savannah; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia is proud to be home to the Georgia China Alliance, the Atlanta Chapter
of the National Association of Chinese Americans, the Chinese Business
Association of Atlanta, the Association of Chinese Professionals, the Hong Kong
Association of Atlanta, and the Asian-American Chamber of Commerce.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body hereby
recognize the special friendship between Georgia and the People's Republic of
China and express our appreciation to Her Excellency Qiao Hong, the Consul
General of China, Houston Consulate, for her efforts to promote peace and grow
commercial, cultural, and educational ties between our two nations.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge President
George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to take all necessary
diplomatic actions to facilitate the selection of Atlanta by the government of
the People's Republic of China as the home of the next Chinese Consul General
office in the United States.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Her Excellency Qiao Hong.